NAIROBI, Kenya – Former president Uhuru Kenyatta-led Jubilee Party has formally welcomed ex-Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to its fold.
During the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) held at the Jockey Club Ngong Racecourse in Nairobi, Jubilee unveiled the former super cabinet secretary and presidential hopeful as its newest member.
The party has stepped up preparations to unveil a presidential candidate to seek the United opposition movement flag bearer.
When he took to the podium, Uhuru took issue with a section of political parties he claimed were hiding in their tribal and regional cocoons.
“This issue of claiming that some political parties belong to certain regions should be something of the past. Let us have national parties that unite Kenyans because of their ideologies and not because of their places of origin,” said Uhuru.
In his own words, the retired head of state went on: “There is no reason for members of the Jubilee Party to elect a person from all parts of the country rather what is important is ensuring that the elected person serves all Kenyans with equity. No matter whether you are a hustler or you have money, every person has the right to lead this nation of ours.”
How Uhuru Kenyatta took on the Kenya Kwanza government
In the last general election, Uhuru disclosed that he endeavored to pass this message, unfortunately it fell on deaf ears and was lost in the noise of insults, character assassinations, myths and stories of hustlers and dynasties and so on.
“Today, many of the gains we had in my administration have been eroded. Linda mama and others have been replaced by new untried, untested schemes. And while we wait for these experiments to work, Kenyans suffer and our progress is retarded,” he added.
Uhuru lamented that as the country continues to dwell in what he termed rhetoric rather than in progress, Kenyans repeat the mistake of the past.
“Indeed, today the truth we spoke yesterday, have become the reality check of today. While some of the truths and falsehoods have become the nightmare that many are living. I have both lost elections and won elections, taking each in my stride, learning that in politics, you can never be led by bitterness, anger or hate. That only deviates you from your mission and vision,” Uhuru further said.
Why time has come for Kenyans to embrace the Gen-z
According to Uhuru, time had come for Kenyans to embrace leaders who are young in mind and spirit- men and women of integrity who can be trusted with our future.
“Leaders with the courage to fight for what is right and just, the patience to listen to those they choose to lead, and the humility to accept that as human beings they can make mistakes but must be ready to correct them. I have quietly observed recent events and admired the tribeless, steadfast courage of today’s generation- a generation that knows what it wants and is determined to achieve it, whatever the cost,” said the former head of state.
Uhuru expressed confidence that it is his hope that the old guard will give way to those young ones, with the same energy, conviction and patriotism.
“Those young men we saw in the streets that you will be able to use them to transform the structures of the party and ultimately you yourselves enter the corridors of power and high office and take charge of your own destiny,” Uhuru further explained.
Discussion about this post